After visiting the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair for over a decade, I have learnt to come early and keep my eyes open.
This is not only to spot some of the new majestic stands appearing at every edition, nor the copies of vintage National Geographic and Zahrat Al Khaleej magazines available for sale at nondescript stalls.
Seasoned attendees would agree that the opening days of the book fair is when some cultural personalities quietly come out to shop and browse the vast space at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
This year’s opening day is no different and I am rewarded with some wonderful encounters with a superstar comic author and an award-winning filmmaker.
Running from Monday to Sunday, the set up for this year’s book fair is at once cohesive and dynamic.
The pavilions are unofficially grouped together in terms of stature and themes.
Upon entering the main gate at Hall 6, you are greeted with a sparkling stand of Turkey – the book fair’s guest of honour.
The two-part pavilion, organised by the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is modern with crisp white and wooden walls home to couches, work stations and a cosy events space.
Flanking the site are an array of UAE cultural organisations and government agencies.
Delving deeper into the hall, I find myself among hundreds of historical and eye-wateringly expensive works.
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is once again a magnet for sellers and collectors of antique books.
Taking centre stage this year is Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, which used the occasion to showcase selected books from its in-house Treasures of the Library collection.
These include some colourful pop culture artefacts such as 1931’s The Adventures of Mickey Mouse by Walt Disney and a first edition of 1997’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling. The blockbuster tale of the young sorcerer is valued at nearly a million dollars online.
Also available at the fair is the epic leather-bound 17th century nautical atlas by Hunter Jaillot and Pierre Mortier, valued at €450,000 and available at the spacious pavilion of Austrian booksellers Inlibris. It is advertised as the most expensive atlas of its kind.
The book fair is also a hub for collectors of a more modern art form.
At the stand of Emirati comic book studio Sandstorm, I spot none other than Brian Michael Bendis, the American author and illustrator behind the Ultimate Spider Man comic book series.
In the city for another engagement, Bendis tells me he visited the book fair to engage with Emirati comic book lovers and aspiring authors.
“I always believed that the more personal the story is to you, the more universal it actually becomes,” he says.
“It is kind of counter-intuitive if you really think about it, but this has been the case throughout my career.
“I have written many of the Spider Man comics at home in Cleveland, Ohio, where I spoke about my experiences, and it has resonated as far as this beautiful city of Abu Dhabi.
“I think this part of the world has so many great stories to tell us and I encourage authors here to go and tell their truths.”
Indeed, the region is not wanting for inspiration.
As part of its annual programming, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair pays tribute to a particular historical or modern culture figure.
This year it is Ibn Khaldoun.
It is at the interactive pavilion dedicated to the 14th century Arab sociologist and philosopher that I meet a keen student of Emirati history.
Fresh from premiering his elegiac documentary on UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, at the Cairo International Book Fair in January, director Nasser Al Dhaheri is once again searching for inspiration.
“History has always been a passion of mine and the Abu Dhabi book fair to me is a piece of UAE and my personal history,” he says.
“Did you know I went to the first book fair back in 1981? It was a small place held near what is now the Cultural Foundation and it was just a series of tents with books everywhere.
“So I come here nearly every year and it reminds me of how far we have come. The book fair always makes me proud and happy.”
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will take place from May 22 to 28. More information is available on adbookfair.com
TV (UAE time);
OSN Sports: from 10am
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
